Management of the underwater and coastal archaelogical heritage in Israel's seas (I)

The Maritime cultural heritage of Israel reflects important chapters in  the history of humanity, including the Neolithic revolution and the  beginning of agriculture, the emergence of the first empires and the  foundation of the three monotheistic religions. Erosion due to sea level rise and human activity is destroying important coastal and underwater  archaeological sites. Low levels in the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea  exposed many archaeological remains, which are threatened by erosion,  treasure hunting and coastal development. Without intensive rescue and protection activities, the valuable cultural maritime heritage will  vanish within a few decades. Legal and operational tools are currently  applied in order to assure integrated coastal zone management, to  control coastal development and to protect the marine cultural resources. Among these are the Antiquities Law, the Planning and  Building Law, the Nature and Parks Law and the Law for the  Protection of the Coastal Environment. Coastal and underwater sites  are mapped and monitored, protected coastal and underwater sites are  declared and rescue surveys are carried out in the endangered sites. A  national risk assessment document of the coastal and underwater heritage and detailed preservation and protection plans have been  prepared. Pilot projects for protecting and preserving the sea walls of  Ashkelon, Apollonia and Akko were completed and several damaged  harbors in the Sea of Galilee were reconstructed.